Ditch diggers



0d. 10, 1961 c SHORE DITCH DIGGERS Filed July 15, 1959 ATTORNEY a FILE /7. SHO/F5,

United States Patent 3,003,264 DlTCH DIGGERS Charles M. Shore, Eldora, Iowa Filed July 15, 1959, Ser. No. 827,265 4 Claims. (Cl. 37-103) This invention relates to improvements in ditch diggers of the type characterized as trench hoes wherein a bucket or scoop is so operated in a swinging motion as to dig into the earth and thereby form a trench.

Trench hoes, as used heretofore, are often employed in sand or light soils, and inasmuch as a trench formed thereby has straight, vertical sides, cave-ins result from such use, especially when the trench is formed in wet spots. No adequate provision has been made for sloping the sides of the trench to prevent such cave-ins during the trenching operation.

One object of this invention is to provide means on the trench hoe bucket which will automatically slope the banks of the trench and thereby eliminate cave-ins, especially in said or light soils, as well as in wet places in the earth where such cave-ins otherwise may result.

3,003,264 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 at 2. The bucket 2 is provided with an open side having a cutting edge, generally indicated at 3, usually provided with teeth to facilitate the cutting action. The upright edges of the open side of the bucket are shown as embraced by bars 4 connected together at their upper ends by a head plate 5 which is pivoted at 6 to the lower end of the arm 1. Links 7 interconnect the arm 1 with the rear side of the bucket 2.

The trench hoe described above is of conventional construction and is illustrated and described only as one form of trench hoe to which this invention may be ap- Another object of the invention is to provide an at- I tachment relatively inexpensive and simple in construction, which may be applied to any conventional trench bucket for sloping the banks of trenches formed thereby whenever desired, so as to eliminate cave-ins as a result of the operation of the trench hoe.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the trench hoe by providing on the bucket thereof means for sloping the banks throughout the major portion of the depth of the trench formed thereby and yet leaving an area in the bottom of the trench with parallel sides of a depth which may be varied, as desired, according to an adjustment of the sloping means with respect to the bucket.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by providing blades extending upwardly in divergent relations from opposite sides of the trench hoe bucket, suitably braced and detachably connected with the arm of the bucket, so as to be used as an attachment therefor and yet will be sufiiciently sturdy and rigid when applied for effective use. The arms may be adjusted vertically with respect to the bucket, so as to leave an area in the bottom of the trench with straight, parallel sides, as may be needed in laying tile in the trench. This attachment may be provided, as well as the detachable mounting of the banksloping means, so as to permit use of the trench hoe for forming a trench with parallel sides, when desired, or with sloping sides when operating in areas that may result in cave-ins, such, for example, as sand or light soils, or in wet places. A pair of diverging blades are braced and held spaced apart at their upper ends by a beam that extends transversely therebetween and is detachably mounted on the arm of the trench hoe. The lower ends of the blades are detachably mounted on the opposite sides of the bucket, preferably adjustable vertically relative thereto, so as to vary the depth of the trench which may be formed with parallel sides and with the remainder of sloping sides.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a trench hoe, showing the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross section through one of the blades on the line 33 in FIG. 2.

The invention is shown as applied to a trench hoe that includes a power arm, generally designated by the numeral 1, and which arm 1 supports a bucket, indicated plied. The invention is capable of being fitted to and applied on any usual form of trench hoe or other similar device and is not to be limited to the form shown. This invention is adapted for attachment to a trench hoe and preferably is made so as to be detachable therefrom when not required, so that it does not form a permanent part of the trench hoe.

The attachment comprises a pair of blades, generally indicated at 8, having their forward edges 9 sharpened for cutting action. These blades are preferably curved in cross section, as illustrated in FIG. 3, to facilitate cleavage of the dirt along the sides of the trench formed by the trench hoe, and separation and removal thereof. However, they may be straight in cross section and either tilted outward or parallel, at least at the back edge portion from the fastening bolts rearward. They should be curved from the fastening bolts forwardly to the cutting edges.

At their lower ends, the blades 8 are connected with brackets 10, abutting the upper faces of the brackets 10 and preferably welded to the brackets. The brackets 10 are disposed in embracing relation with the opposite sides of the bucket 2, and in the form of bucket shown with reinforcing bars 4 along the free edges thereof, the brackets overlap the bars 4.

It is preferred that the brackets 10 be detachable, as by securing bolts 11 which connect the brackets with the opposite sides of the bucket 2 at points spaced above the bottom of the bucket. The point of connection of the brackets with the sides of the bucket will determine the portion in the bottom of the trench which will remain with parallel sides during operation of the trench hoe.

Frequently, it is desirable to leave a space of about one foot with parallel sides, especially when tile is to be laid in the bottom of the trench. This is made possible by conmeeting the lower ends of the blades 8 at a point spaced upward from the operative bottom of the bucket 2 sufficiently so as to have that portion with straight, parallel.

sides.

Additional holes 16 may be formed in the sides of the bucket 2 for adjustment of the height of the blades relative thereto or these may be connected initially at the desired height.

The upper ends of the blades 8 are held in laterally displaced diverging relation by a cross beam 12 which extends transversely therebetween and is of desired length according to the spread to be provided between blades. The outer ends of the beam 12 are welded or otherwise secured to attaching plates 13 which, in turn, are connected by bolts 14 with the blades 8. Thus, the blades may be detached from the beam 12 for ease of assembly, packing and shipment.

The beam 12 is detachably connected with the arm 1 intermediate the length of the beam. In this form of the invention, the detachable connection is provided by bolts 15 that extend through the beam 12 on opposite sides of the arm 1, as shown in FIG. 2, and through a plate 17 on the opposite side of the arm 1 from the bearing relation of the beam 12 thereagainst. Thus, the bolts 15 clamp the arm 1 to the beam 12 and hold the parts se- 3 curely in place when applied, while yet permitting detachm t and p io en des ar not needed.

This attachament can be applied to any suitable or desired form of trench hoe, so that it may be used when digging trenches that require the banks to' be sloped. When not required, it can be readily detached; therefrom by the simple expedient of removing the bolts 11 and15.

The attachment is simple in construction and can be manufactured at relatively low cost, so as to be used when desired. Whenever it is required, it will provide a satisfactory sloping of the banks of trenches, so that caveins are substantially eliminated. It is, especially useful when trenches are being formed in sand, or light soil, or when the soil is wet.

The blades diverge outwardly away from the free edge; of the open side of the bucket, and preferably so as to leave a portion in the bottom of; the trench with parallel sides. It is often desirable to provide a' slope in the upper partof the trench, but without sloping the entire depth thereof when digging,jespecially when tile is to be laid in the bottom of the trench. By varying the point of attachment of the blades with the sides of the bucket,

' the amount of this portion in the bottom of the trench maybe varied, as desired' The trench hoe is operated with the attachment in the conventional manner to form the trench. Initially,v the cutting action is accomplished by the free edge of the bucket 2, but as the latter moves downward in the formed trench, additionalcutting is provided by the free edges of the blades 8, so as to slope the sides of the trench automatically during formation thereof and thusprevent cayein of the material. As the sides are cut away by the "blades 8, the dirt, rock and debris fall into the bucket,

andare scooped up thereby for removal.

While the invention has been illustrated and described one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1; In a ditch digger, the combination with a bucket having opposite sides and a cutting edge, and an arm supporting the bucket for swinging movement to form a ditch, a pair of cutting blades extending upwardly from opposite sides of the bucket in diverging relation, brackets secured rigidly to the lower ends of the blades and en.- gaged with opposite sides of the bucket, detachable fas.-. tenings connecting said brackets with opposite sides of the bucket, and means for varying the spaced relation. of

the brackets with the bottom of the bucket whereby a predetermined'bottom portion of the ditch is formed with substantially straight vertical walls.

2. In a ditch digger, the combination with a bucket having opposite sides and a cutting edge, and an arm supporting the bucket for swinging movement to form a ditch, of a pair of cutting blades extending upwardly from opposite sides of the bucket in diverging relation,

4 brackets secured rigidly to the lower ends of the blades and engag d. with oppo i e sides of the bucket, and dc.- tachable fastenings connecting said brackets with opposite sides of the bucket, said'bucket having a plurality of apertures in each side thereof ior selectively receiving the fastenings for varying the spaced relation of the brackets withthe bottom of the bucket whereby a predetermined bottom portion of a ditch is; formed with straight vertical walls;

3. In a ditch digger, the combination with a bucket having opposite sides and a'cutting edge, and an arm supporting the bucket for swing g movement to form a ditch, of a pair of cutting blades extending upwardly from opposite sides of the bucket in diverging relation, a beam extending transversely between the upper end. portions of the blades for holding the blades in laterally diverging relation, mounting plates at opposite ends of the beam in abutting relation with the inner faces of the blades, detachable fastenings connecting the mounting plates with the blades for separation of the beam therefrom, detachable fastening means connecting the beam intermediate its length with the arm for holding the beam securely thereto and for detachment therefrom, brackets secured to. the lower ends of the blades and engaged with opposite sides of the bucket, detachable fastenings connecting said brackets with opposite sides of the bucket, and means for varying the spaced relation of the brackets with the bottom of the bucket whereby a predetermined bottom portion of a ditch, is formed with substantially straight vertical walls.

4. In a ditch digger of the character described, the combination with a backhoe shovel having a bucket and an armsupporting the bucketfor swinging movement to form a ditch, of an attachment comprising a pair of cutting blades extending upwardly from opposite sides of the bucket in diverging relation, brackets rigidly secured to the lower ends of the blades and engaged with opposite sides of the bucket, detachable fastenings connecting said brackets with opposite sides of the bucket, a beam extending transversely between the upper end portions of the blades, mounting plates at opposite ends of the beam in abutting relation with the inner faces of the blades, detachable fastenings connecting the mounting plates with the blades 'for separation of the; beam therefrom, and detachable fastening means connecting the beam intermediate its length with the arm for holding the beam securely thereto, and for detachmenttherefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,834 Scalzitti' June 6, 1916 2,148,171 Paris et a1. Feb. 21, 1939 2,480,656 Ienne Aug. 30, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 80,354w Netherlands Jan. 16, 1956 

